Blow for Belgium and Aston Villa: Onana Suffers Severe Injury

Belgian midfielder Amadou Onana faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament during the Red Devils' 4-1 World Cup victory over the USA, as reported by The Athletic.

The 24-year-old Aston Villa midfielder was forced off in the 21st minute of the Round of 16 clash and was later seen on crutches with a brace on his right knee. He is expected to be out of action for at least 7-8 months.

Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku celebrated his team's fourth goal by holding up Onana's number 24 jersey in second-half stoppage time. The midfielder's severe injury presents a significant challenge for coach Rudi Garcia ahead of their match against European champions Spain.

The injury is also a major blow for Aston Villa, as manager Unai Emery had planned to build his midfield around the trio of Onana, Boubacar Kamara, and Youri Tielemans. The Birmingham club had not been looking to strengthen this position, but will now likely need to reassess their options in the transfer market.

Onana joined Villa from Everton in the summer of 2024 and has made 72 appearances for the club. Last season, he featured in 38 matches across all competitions, helping his team win the Europa League and qualify for the Champions League. He had played in four matches for Belgium at the World Cup prior to his injury.